Ithaca vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Ithaca
Medford
The Verdict
Living in Ithaca costs 11.3% less than Medford. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Ithaca, you would need $84,574 in Medford.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has the same purchasing power as $84,574 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $66,509 in Ithaca.
Living in Ithaca vs Medford
Housing Costs
Ithaca's housing index of 117 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $324,000 vs $406,000. The $82,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,328 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Ithaca compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Ithaca and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Ithaca vs $513/month in Medford. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Ithaca and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Ithaca vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 99 in Ithaca and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,600 in Ithaca and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,702 and $69,057 respectively. Medford residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Ithaca vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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